Electric retort-furnace.



J.BALLY. ELEOTRIG RBTORT FURNAOE.

APPLICATION FILED JULYE, 1912.

1,079,588. Patented Nov. 25, 1913.

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JEAN BALLY, oFGRENoBLE, FRANCE.

ELECTRIC Euronen-FURNACE.

Specication of Letters Yatent.

Application ined July 5, v1912. serial No. 707,855.

Toi-all lwhom/t may concern Be it known that I, 'JEAN BALLY, citizen;

i ofifthel Republic of F rance, residing at '4 Rue de `la Fdration, Grenoble, Isre, in the Republic of France, have invented new and useful Improvements in Electric Re- 'tort-Furnaces, of which-the following isa` specification.

j rIhis invention relates to an electric. retort .furnace which may be used for various purposes suchkas heating, calcining,distilling, etc., non-conductive materials. The heat by which the retorts are brought to the desired temperature is produced therein by directly transformin the available mtive power into currents induced in said retorts. The retorts of the furnace made of conduc "tive material and electrically connected -together mayY thus` form the short circuited armature of an alternator 'having a rotat- The retorts are arranged on a ing inductor. circle around acentral space in which the stationary or rotating inductor or eld mag net is located, said 'retorts being parallel t'o the axis of the latter. The retorts and inductor axis may be vertically, horizontally or otherwise arranged.

In the annexed drawings: Figure 1 is a view partly in section of an electric retort.

furnace according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a corresponding plan view, partly in vsectlon along the line,2-2, in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatical horizontal section showing a modification. Fig. 4 is a diagrammatical elevation view of a furnace with horizontal retorts. v

The furnace shown`in Figs. 1 to 3 comprises eight vertical retorts 1 arranged in a circle and embedded in an annular body 2 of refractory or heat insulating material. Inside of said body, a central space 3 is left in which the eight pole inductor or field magnet system 4 rotates. The inductor 4 is keyed on a shaft 5 parallel to the retorts and driven by any source of motive power. The retorts which form thus the armature winding of the furnace-alternator are all connected in series by means of the upper and lower covers 6, 7, of the furnace. Each of said covers `is formed, for that cally two followin retorts and are insulated-from each ot'er by insulating packings-S. As shown in Fig. 2, the insulating angularly with respect to the similar packings ofthe lower cover, so that an uninterrupted circuit comprising all the retorts in seriesV is offered to the induced currents. The ohmic resistance of the retort circuit and the other characteristics of the furnace are selected so that the retorts are brought tothe temperature desired.

The armature of the furnace-alternator comprises a magnetic frame 10 formed of superposed metal sheets cutaway for receiving the retorts. The magnetic frame is car ried by braces such as the sleeves 11 threaded on vertical bolts 12 which connect together 'the upper and lower covers 6, 7, and are insulated from the same. By this arrangement, the braces and retorts canbe put first into place and the material forming the refractory or heat insulating mass poured afterward around the same. The furnace is surrounded by a cylindrical shell 13 insulated from the covers. The magnetic frame may be cooled if desired by any suitable means, for instance by forming between the plates 10 hollow spaces which run inwardly into the central space 3 and outwardly into openings formed in the shell 13, and causing a draft of air to circulate through said hollow spaces. The draft may be created by the rotation of the inductor itselfin the air or by means of a fan keyed on its shaft. A vertical pipe 15 may be arranged 'above c Patented Nov. 25,1913.

the central space 3 so that the rotating part of the furnace is protected and a part of the air draft created is directed upwardly whereby no cooling effect is produced at the upper surface of the furnace.

The whole of the furnace is carried on a foundation and suitably-insulated.

16 is anfexhaust pipe connected to the retorts and leading the distilled products to a condenser 17.

Instead of the connections between the retorts being formed by the upper and lower covers of the furnace they may be formed (Fig.l 3) by annular pieces 18 of the metal, embedded in the refractory body, the upper and lower covers, being then suitably insulated and serving merely to increase the mechanical strength of the whole furnace structure. The retorts can also be arranged horizontally (Fig. 4) the inductor shaft being also horizontal. By this arrangement, the loading and unloading of the retorts is considerably facilitated.

The electric connections may be arranged so that the retorts mounted on one or more concentric circles are connected in series, in parailel or in parallel series in single phase or multipliase systems.- A simple construction which can be worked either with single phase or multiphase arrangement consists in connecting all the retorts at the top and bottom by circular heads or covers, the arrangement being thus a squirrel cage windlng.

rIhe invention is not restricted to any specific feature shown or described.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters- Patent is: Y

l. In an electric furnace, in combination: parallel retorts arranged around a central space and containing the material toI be heated, said retorts being made of a conductive material, means for connecting the retorts together, an inductor inside the said central space and means for energizing the inductor, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth. y

2. In an electric furnace, in combination: parallel retorts arranged around a central space and containing the material to be heated, said retorts being made of a conductive material, means for connecting the ret-Orts together, an inductor rotating inside the said central space and means for rotating and energizing the inductor, substan-v tially as described and for the purpose set forth.

3. Inlan electric Ifurnace, in combination: retort-s arranged around a central space containing the material .to be heated, said retorts being made of a conductive material, divided vcovers connecting the retorts `in a continuous circuit, a magnetic frame around the retorts, an -inductor rotating inside' the said' central space and 'means for rotating and exciting the inductor, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof -I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JEAN BALLY.

Witnesses:

Louis Moens, LUomN MEMMINGER. 

